Theft by Deception

Like a bunch of bull. They cant get you for theft fraud ? What state are you in?

That's some funny sh**.Since when did collectors get district attorney powers. Listen to mod above. The collector is trying to scare you into paying"Extortion".

Cajun, I think these companies will try anything. I would have been one of those people that fell for it too. I was scared when I came to this site. Thats why this site is so important. Glad to have you aboard. KYSIDE38

I was shaken and couldn't even finish eating my lunch they had me so scared. It makes me angry to know how much bull they told me and had me really upset and nervous. I was scared to come to work the next day and kept thinking the police were going to be walking up to my desk..lol. Boy did they really get me...best one was when I actually returned a call and the lady pretended to be on the phone with the DA's office discussing me. I started laughing and asked who put's the DA's office on hold to answere another call...they don't think.

Pinklady, The worse one that I had told my son who at the time was six years old that they were going to put me in jail. I was taking the trash out and didnt answer the phone. That kid was scared for weeks. Sad that they have to do people like that. At that point I had overpaid them by 1100.00 . Kyside38

Wow, I do remember reading in another post...they told a lady they were going to take her kids away. Sometimes I wonder how these people sleep at night.

I got my call from Bass & Associates (that's what they called themselves atleast) last night. The woman was like I'm w/Bass & Associates and we are attempting to collect outstanding balances on 4 pdls, and that United Federal Bank was the lender for B & L Mkt., Platinum B, Access Process and C & G. She gives me this fictious account number, and then tells me that they will be processing papers for my arrest, that i had committed fraud, and theft by deception because they had deposited funds into my checking account, that I had applied for online.
I calmly told her that I was aware of my rights, and the states PDL laws, and that I'm currently working with a consumer counselor and attorney(which they had no intrest of the companys name or number), and that their threats, nor attempts at intimidation would scare me. She gave this phone number [877-281-2220 x.381].
At one time I would of fallen for these scare tactics, and jumped. But thanks to this forum and the information and help I've received I was able to stand up to them w/o fear. So thanks again to this forum, and I hope that I can do something to help someone else out. My battle is far from over but atleast now I can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel. I've got hope and that's truly important.

It just amazes me that they can do this. Maybe any of the attorneys reading these posts can answer this question. When CA's make threats like that, doesn't that amount to extortion or coercion making it a crime? It's probably a real gray area but I'm sure that at the very least, the attorney generals office would love to hear extreme cases like that. PinkLady, I would encourage you to speak to your AG and/or your elected representatives. I know senators and congressmen are beginning to crack down on these PDL's. So please... ppplllleeeeaassssee tell on them and get them in trouble.

In my opinion, you should get a cease and desist letter sent to these dirtbags. After that, get you a recorder for your phone providing your state allows you to record. Then if they call and harass you again,sue them for every penny you can squeeze out of their sorry buts.Just my $.02.

This is exactly the same situation I am in with some company claiming to be United Processing. He also said they were going to download an affidavit saying that I had committed internet fraud...maybe something else...I wasn't able to understand him because he was obviously foreign. He already called my office this morning but I told him I wasn't in ;) I'm going to call him from home and let him know he can make all the legal threats he wants but they have no merit.

That day when it first happened I was shaking. I told my boss I had to go to a dr. appointment just so I could go home and call him back to get everything straight.

I almost fell for it too...

He isn't able to substantiate anything in writing...so he's not getting anything but a piece of my mind.

You guys are sooooo helpful!

United Processing is not even a real company. It is just the name that Bass and Associates use for one of their call centers that operates out of a different office and is managed entirely by persons of Indian descent/heritage.

My colleague who works at Bass states that contrary to my belief, the call center is not operated out of India, but operated out of Miami, Florida. I really don't buy this. I think these people - who go by fake names like Tom Jackson, Jack Smith, Andrew Voshstein, etc. - are working out of an Indian Call Center.

The existence of this wing of Bass is also why I am further convinced that Bass is very very very closely affiliated with the Ellis Crosby firm that got run out of Florida for every legal violation known to man.

Furthermore, there is a post on here where someone states that Astro Lending claims that Ellis Crosby is still collecting on their accounts and it is actually United Processing aka Bass collecting on their accounts.

As far as sending a debt validation letter, while United will not give you their address, I would contact the original lender to ask who is collecting on the account and if they can provide you the address.

In all likelihood, depending on the original creditor, you will either need to send the validation letter directly to Bass and Associates and state that you believe that these morons are collecting in affiliation with Bass, or you will just send the debt validation letter to ICollect if ICollect now owns the account and you are unable to ascertain who in fact is collecting on ICollect's behalf. In other words, if you call the original creditor, and the creditor states ICollect owns the account and the creditor is unsure who is collecting on behalf of ICollect, contact ICollect to ascertain who is collecting on their behalf and then send a validation letter accordingly. However, ICollect is notoriously hard to get a hold of, so you may not be able to determine who is doing the collection. In that case, just send the letter of validation directly to ICollect.

When I tried to contact Icollect, she would not give me her address. I went back and forth with this lady and she insisted that I had to set everything up with Bass Enterprises (that is what she called them). She said she would only give her address to my attorney.

Doug,
First, good to hear you are offering helpful advice.
Second, what if someone can't get a hold of the collection agency and has repeatedly tried? Or if the collection agency continues to refuse to provide information? What could happen to the person that owes the debt?

I too have recieved the notorious call from Bass & Associates I recieved a $500 loan $250 from FSM Processing and $250 from Premier Processing I called the number after they left a very threatening message on my phone telling me to have my lawyer contact them and Good Luck .. I called them back and was told that the total amount owed was $1400 now I dont know what kind of interest has accumulated on this loan of only 2 months old. but I got threatened with jail time and was told that the company had hired them as lawyers and where briging me up on charges for fraud.. I asked him if he knew the definition of fraud. I said not having the ability to pay someone back because I was off work for 6 weeks for surgery is not fraud. The intent to decive or steal is. I told them they where being fraudukent int rying to get me to pay more than double what I obtained. I asked him what the fees where for and he couldnt tell me he stated that I had gotten 2 $400 and something dollar loans and the rest was for attorney fees and court cost because they had been to court to get a warrant for my arrest. I told him to send me proof of this court date and why wasnt I notified of it, I also told him that unless I recived proff of these additional cost I was not obligated to pay anything but what I borrowed and at the very least the interest charged for the loans which was $75 a piece. After the call I was scared to death and even contiplated not paying my rent and sending that in. I called him back and asked could they accept half now and payment arragngements for the rest and I wa stolsd that they couldnt I was told that I had less than 2 hours to come up with it all or go to jail . This was last week. I am not in jail I would like to contact the colection agency who has this debt so I can arrange payment with them but I dont know who it is. These people are scam artisits and something should be done about this. I wasso pleased to find this website . you guys have really put my mind at ease ecause I was really wondering how I would ever come up with that kind of money. The guy told me to borrow it from a friend... Hell if I had friends with that kind of money why in the hell would I have taken out a payday loan in the first place.